Index and reinforcing member



y 6, 1950 P. ZALKlND 2,507,659

I INDEX AND REINFORCING MEMBER Filed Oct. '7, 194a 152 FILE. 7

. INVENTOR PHIL/P Z/ZLK/ND "ATTORNEY Patented May 16, 1950 UNIT ED STATE S PAT-EN T OFF-16E INDEX AND REINFORCING MEMBER Philip Zalkind, NewYork, N. Y.

' Application October 7, 194$,Serial No. 505,280

7 Claims.

My invention relates to adhesive coated sheet material and-more particularly to a material in sheet, strip and tape form having a non-drying pressure sensitive adhesive surface and to various products and applications thereof, particularly reinforcements andindex tabs.

A particular object of my present invention is the provision of a readily removable surface protecting means for the pressure sensitive adhesive surface.

Another object is the formation and arrangement ofthe protective sheet so that by its removal it will form and arrange the adhesive coated surfaces of the reinforcement or tab member to facilitate application thereof.

An important embodiment of my invention relates to index tabs which may be formed individually or in continuous rolls and be provided with a protective sheeteither individual to each tab or in continuous but readily separable form.

Another application of my invention is to reinforcing and securing members to be attached to sheet material.

Still another application of my invention is to binding members for securing together sheafs of sheet material.

These and many other objects of my invention will be pointed out, and where not specifically pointed out will be apparent in the following description and drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a .perspectiveview of a form of tab made in accordance with my invention, the said tab being shown before application to a sheet.

Figure 2 is a view corresponding to that of Figure 1 showing the tab of Figure l as applied to a sheet.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the construction of Figure 1 to facilitate the formation of the said type of tab into a continuous length for a continuous roll.

Figure 4 is a view in perspective corresponding to that of'Figure 1 but showing the arrangement of the tab in continuous lengths which may be manually severed from each other.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view also showing a modified form of the construction of Figure 1 to facilitate manufacture, shipment and storage in continuous lengths.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a further modification of the construction of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the manner of application of the tab of Figure 6.

A useful embodiment of my invention which is adapted specifically to the provision of an indicating tab on a sheet of material is shown in Figure 1.

Here, the tab 20- consists of a sheetof backing material 2| which encases a member 22, and which has a pair of projecting-legs. 23, 23 at-fold lines 23a. The projecting legs, as above edescribed, have a pressure-adheringadhesive surface. In appropriate cases, the member 22 may be dispensed with and relianceplaced onlyon the doubled backing sheet. Where .the member 22 is used, it may be of.-any. suitable stiffening material. Where the backing material 2| is transparent, the member ZZ -may, be. atransparent tube to receive indicia; where the backing is not transparent, a cut-out may be provided therein to permit the indicia tobe viewed.

As a matter of fact, for easeof manufacturing, the entire surface of thebacking sheet 2| has a pressure-adhering surface, and the'member '22is held in place .at one end of the .tab bymeans of this pressure-adhering adhesive surface. For this purpose, it may also be useful to omit the adhesive in the backing adjacent one surface of the member 22 to permit indicia to be slipped between the said surface of the stiffening element and the backing. The backing may then. be transparent; or a window or cut-out may be placed therein to make the indicia visible. Where indicia are to be visible through the material of a transparent backing sheet, then. the pressureadhering adhesive material, which is utilized as an inside surfacing for the backing sheet 2|, should also be sufiiciently transparent to permit a clear readingthereof.

The inner adhesive surfaces of the legs 23 are each protected by a layer of materialv 24,24. This material extends overthe entire inner surface; but at the inner end of each of the legs adjacent the element22, a reentrant portion 25, 25 is provided on the protective strips 24'the said reentrant portion consisting of a flap preferably extending beyond the ends of the legs 23, 23.

As may readily be seen from Figure 1, the two protective strips .2 2, 24.and.their reentrant flaps 25, 25 may be formed from a single sheet of material having a fold line at 26. Obviously, also, each of the protecting members and their respective flaps 25 may be formed of. separate sheets of material'in which case oneof .theflaps25 may be longer than the other to facilitate removing them one at a time, should thatbe desired. In this latter case, one leg of the tab may be applied first and readily adjusted to the proper position; and then theprotective strip may be removed from the other leg, and that leg secured in position.

In order now to remove the protective material from the adhesive surface of the legs 23, it is necessary to grasp the element 22 of the tab with one hand and to pull on the reentrant flaps 25, 25 with the other hand. The strips 24, 24 will now be peeled off the legs 23. At the same time, owing to this peeling action, the members 23, 23 will curl outwardly away from each other, so that they will be freely separated, thus facilitating their placement over the edge of a sheet. To facilitate this outward curl, the protective strips 24, 24 may be transversely crimped, ribbed or corrugated, although this is not essential.

As is seen in Figure 2, when the members 23, 23 are now placed on either side of the edge of sheet 28, the element 22, carrying any suitable ind icia, is held in appropriate position with respect to the sheet 28.

By this means it is obvious that a simple protective member may be utilized for an ordinary tab having a pressure-adhering adhesive surface and the said member may readily be removed, and at the same time in its removal pre-condition the tab so that it may easily be applied to the edge of the sheet on which it is to serve as an indication.

In Figure 3 I have shown a slight modification of the construction of Figure 1 which facilitates the rolling up of the tabs. Here one leg 23' extends outwardly from the stiffening element 22 in the manner previously shown; while the other leg 23" is folded back. Each is provided with the protective strip 24, 24, each having the reentrant flaps 25, 25' interconnected at 26', although again they may be separated from each other at 25' as previously pointed out.

Here, once more, by holding onto the stiffened portion 22 and pulling on the ends 26, the protective sheets 24, 24 may be pulled off the legs 23, and the tab may then be in a condition for secure ment to another sheet in the manner shown in Figure 2.

While in Figure 3 the parts have been shown greatly exaggerated, I have found that this parcular manner of folding the parts permits a rather flat continuous length to be formed which facilitates rolling up of a continuous length of tabs. These tabs, like the tabs in Figure 5, may be provided with a series of weakening lines, perforations or scores which will facilitate separation into a plurality of individual units.

In Figure 4 I have shown a slight modification of the construction of Figure 1 wherein all of the elements have exactly the same form, but where the reentrant flaps 25, 25 are shown as actually separated at the ends 26. It will be appreciated that this form of tab may be held with light pressure of the fingers in position astraddle the edge of a sheet, and strips 25 subsequently pulled downwardly one at a time, thus exposing the adhesive surfaces at the desired location whereupon increased finger pressure serves to cause the tab to adhere.

In addition, as may now be readily understood, the tabs may be actually out apart along the lines 35, 35, the said cuts extending over the width of the entire tab and onto the reentrant flaps 25. Thus, the tabs may be torn apart from each other by tearing only the uncut area on the reentrant flaps 25.

Any unevenness or irregularity along the tear on the flaps 25, 25 does not matter since these flaps are to be removed and thrown away before application of the tabs to a sheet.

However, in order to ensure that some graspable length of the reentrant flaps 25, 25 will remain, the cuts 35 extend slightly onto these tabs so that even should the tear be at almost a right angle to the cuts 35, some small portion of the flap will remain to be grasped. Here, once more,

it is necessary only to hold the stiffened section 22 of the tab in one hand and to pull on the flaps 25 with the other in order to remove the protective material and place the tab in condition where it may be applied in the manner shown in Figure 4.

In Figure 5 I have shown a modification of the construction of Figure 1 which adapts it for formation into a continuous roll. This construction comprises an upper adhesive surfaced sheet I00 and a lower adhesive surfaced sheet IOI. Captured between these sheets are alternate tiffening members I 02 and protective members I03. Each of the protective members I03 consists of the protective flaps I 24, I24 on each side engaged against the inner surfaces of the sheets I00, IOI and 2reentrant flaps I25, 525 united at their ends at I 6.

Suitable perforations or tear lines I30, I30 are provided in the upper and lower sheets I00, I III-the tear lines being so spaced that the stiffening member 22 and a protecting member I03 are included between adjacent tear lines. Each of the tear lines I30 is also placed adjacent the end I26 of the protective member.

Thus, when the tabs are separated along the tear lines I30, a series of individual tabs will be formed having exactly the form shown in Figure l with the sole exception that the backing material is not continuous around the outer end of the stiffening sheet I02.

The tab may then be used and treated in exactly the same manner as previously described in connection with Figure 1.

In Figures 6 and 7 I have shown a modification wherein an inner stiffening member I68 is provided on which suitable indicia may be placed immediately before the tab is arranged for securement to the edge of the sheet. The backing sheet IEI has projecting legs I02, I63 and a fold line I 64. Protective flaps I65 and IE6 are provided, each having a reentrant fiap I6! and I68 respectively. The surface of the stiffening sheet I 60 is open for any markings which it may be desired to place thereon. The protective material is removed in the manner previously described. The leg I63 is folded over on the fold line I64 and, the tab is secured to the edge of the sheet H0 in the manner shown in Figure 7.

In the foregoing I have set forth my invention in connection with specific embodiments thereof. Many variations and modifications of each of the embodiments either with respect to the construction thereof or with respect to the specific application thereof will now be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Accordingly, I prefer to be bound not by the specific disclosures herein but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tab for securement to the margin of a sheet; said tab comprising an indicating member and a pair of substantially parallel opposite legs extending from an edge thereof; the inner surfaces of said legs being coated with an adhesive material; a protective sheet in face to face relation with the adhesive coated surface of one of said legs; said protective sheet having a reentrant portion extending outwardly from the section of said leg adjacent said indicating mem-- her; said protective sheet being peelable from said leg surface by grasping and pulling on said re-entrant portion.

section of said leg adjacent said indicating member; said protective sheet being peelable from said leg surface by grasping and pulling on said re-entrant portion; and a similar protective sheet on the adhesive coated surface of the other of said legs.

3. A tab for securement to the margin of a sheet; said tab comprising an indicating member and a pair of substantially parallel opposite legs extending from an edge thereof; the inner surfaces of said legs being coated with an adhesive material; a protective sheet in face to face relation with the adhesive coated surface of one of said legs; said protective sheet having a reentrant portion extending outwardly from the section of said leg adjacent said indicating member; said protective sheet being peelable from said leg surface by grasping and pulling on said reentrant portion; and a similar protective sheet on the adhesive coated surface of the other of said legs; the re-entrant portions of said protective sheets extending substantially in surface to surface relation with each other, with the surfaces of the protective sheets opposite the surfaces which engage the adhesive in contact with each other.

4. A tab for securement to the margin of the sheet; said tab comprising an indicating member and a pair of substantially parallel opposite legs extending from an edge thereof; the inner surfaces of said legs being coated with an adhesive material; a protective sheet in face to face relation with the adhesive coated surface of one of said legs; said protective sheet having a reentrant portion extending outwardly from the section of said leg adjacent said indicating member; said protective sheet being peelable from said leg surface by grasping and pulling on said re-entrant portion; and a similar protective sheet on the adhesive coated surface of the other of said legs; the re-entrant portions of said protective sheets extending substantially in surface to surface relation with each other and being connected at their outer ends.

5. An indicator tab comprising a substantially V-shaped member comprised of sheet material and having a tap portion terminating in a pair of opposed legs foldably and integrally secured thereto, the inner surfaces of said legs being coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive, said adhesive surfaces being in substantially face to face but separated relation, a protective sheet on each of said coated surfaces, said sheets being adapted to be stripped therefrom so as to expose said surfaces, said protective sheets having respective re-entrant portions normally disposed intermediate said legs of sufficient length to be manually grasped for the purpose of being stripped from the respective legs.

6. An index tab comprising an indicator member adapted to be disposed at the edge of a folder or the like for displaying indicia, said member having a pair of legs joined thereto at respective fold lines and independently pivotable with respect to each other to a position where said legs have substantially opposing surfaces, said legs being coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive on opposing faces, manually peelable shield means adhering to said adhesive faces, said shield means having free non-adhering portions adapted to be manually gripped to peel said shield means for exposing said adhesive surfaces, said free portions being disposed adjacent said indicator member to effect ready removal by exerting a pulling force between said member and said free portions.

7. An index tab for folders or the like comprising a backing sheet of pliable transparent plastic material having a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive on one surface thereof, an indicia member, said backing sheet being folded over said indicia member and said indicia member being permanently secured thereto by said adhesive surface, whereby said indicia is visible through said backing sheet and secured within the fold thereof, said backing sheet having portions extending beyond said indicia member to form opposable legs foldably carried thereby, and peelable protective shield means adhering to the exposed adhesive surfaces of said legs and having non-adhering free portions disposed adjacent said indicator member whereby said shield means may be readily removed by exerting a pulling force between said free portions and said indicator member.

PHILIP ZALKIND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS- Number Name Date 891,505 Smith June 23, 1908 1,199,418 Rand Sept. 26, 1916 1,220,402 Deuss Mar. 27, 1917 1,326,370 Porter Dec. 30, 1919 1,346,101 Aigner July 13, 1920 1,472,887 Ringler Nov. 6, 1923 1,612,267 Dickson Dec. 28, 1926 1,687,859 Fontaine Oct. 16, 1928 1,949,271 Duhamel Feb. 27, 1934 1,961,079 Pettis May 29, 1934 2,139,377 Mull et a1. Dec. 6, 1938 2,292,272 Hirschfeld Aug. 4, 1942 

